I decided shortly after we got pregnant and i started getting the question from everyone “have you thought of any names” “i hope it’s not this name or a name like this”, etc etc, that we would not reveal the name until we are 100% decided on a name AND it was relatively close to my due date.

However, I came up with this cute idea to put the name we chose on the cake at my baby shower. But my shower is in 10 days (2.5 months before my due date). I think it would be fun and cute to reveal the name that way. And i think it is safe to say that we have 100% decided on a name.

But I also fear getting disappointed by people’s reactions. I thought at the shower, people would be nice as there will be a group. But i know my friends and family and I am afraid they will not hide their reactions (or they will feel free to share it with me later if they don’t like the name), so that makes me second guess my cute idea of putting the name on the cake. And i am stuck on what to do.

I would love to hear from anyone who is happy they shared the name early, or wished they waited…and why. (Or what you are planning to do and why if you have not yet had your baby)

We have gone in with a list of two or three names for each of our girls. We shared those names wiht our families before hand and I wish we hadn’t. With #2 my dad made fun of the name and came up with a stupid nickname that annoys me every time he says it. I wish we would have just kept them to ourselves until we picked and baby was already named. Once it is done, what can they say?

This time we have a few names for each sex and we have kept them on the DL, my oldest likes to share the list with others, but we don’t bring the subject up and definately aren’t asking opinions on the matter.

Not a parent or pregnant, but I like the idea of leaving an element of surprise for people. And no matter what name you choose, someone will hate it, but people are more likely to keep their opinions to themselves after the baby is already here and named.

I’d wait. If you tell people before the baby is born, you are giving them a chance to criticize, and some people will criticize ANYTHING! If you wait til there is an actual person they can see attached to that name, they are more likely to keep their opinins to themselves lol

I will probably share my name when we are fully committed to it. I’ve already shared our choice for boys name with our families and got really mixed reactions but honestly I could care less because my husband and I love it that much. I’d say if you are in a love with a name you really just have to the let the comments roll off you. Not everyone is going to have the same opinions on names. My sister named my nephew Cash and I thought it was just strange at first but I actually love it and it fits him perfectly. I can’t imagine him having any other name.

@dynamic_duo: I wouldn’t put it on the cake. Yes it’s a cute idea, but it sounds like you’re the type of person who cares what others think. If the reactions aren’t great, you WILL second guess yourself.

I’d wait until the kid is born, and then announce it then. People are less likely to voice their negative opinions once the baby is really there and the name is set in stone.

Keep it to yourself. There is always someone who thinks they’re “helping” by pointing out what a stupid name it is or what horrible nicknames people can come up with.

My coworker has a daughter named Athena. If he had told me he was going to name her Athena I might not have been able to hide my “really? is she a super baby?” look on my face. But seriously, this kid fits her name.

you will always be subjected to other people’s opinions on the name you chose. IMO you should NEVER reveal your chosen name until you’re literally placing the baby in someone arms and saying “meet our new baby, Jack!”

you’ll never please anyone and people will not be shy about telling you how they had someone in their high school gym class with that name that they hated…:)

I’m with the PP’s. I’d probably keep it to myself since outside opinions can be a real pain in the ass. Besides, I’ve heard of people being dead set on a name and then the baby is born and for whatever reason, they don’t think he/she looks like a _____ (which I question because I think all babies look pretty much the same). If this happens to you, and your loved ones jumped the gun by having personalized crap made, that could make for a pretty awkward situation when they give you a blanket adorned with the name Jack but you named him Charlie (or whatever it may be).

Definitely! And I love your idea of putting baby name on cake. And honestly, no one should give any reaction other than supportive because that’s your baby!

Honestly, unless someone names their baby something stupid like profanities or insulting words, I will never say anything negative about it.

Is it because there are a few people’s reactions in the group that you are worreid about, as in are they the type that usually don’t filter before talking? If that’s the case, can you get a sibiling or mother to lobby for you and just pre-empt everyone to be supportive?

We are TTC and as soon as I ma pregnant, I am so telling the whole world my baby name choice just to call dibs! It’s so competitive out here, and good names like Olivia & Sophia are used up many times this year already!

ok, that didn’t take much convincing!! i won’t put the name on the cake! I like the idea, but in addition to not wanting to deal with negative reactions, i have a slight fear that we will change the name at the last minute and then have these pics of the cake with the wrong name, lol. I don’t think we will change it, but you never know. Also, when DH and I are alone, we refer to him by his name already. I actually have to bite my tongue around other people as i have gotten to used to referring to my baby by his name. which i think was part of the reason i wanted to tell people already.

But like a PP said, i do care what others think, and while I don’t think we would change the name based on other people’s reactions, I probably would second guess it for a while and just feel less excited and I am really happy with the name now, so why risk ruining that?

The only thing that I have told people is that the name will be bilingual (french and english). One friend just said the first bilingual name that came to her mind last week and it was the middle name we picked! i had to work hard to keep a neutral expression on my face! That was another reason i was leaning towards it……but you all have reminded me that I really do want to wait – so thanks!

While I do think putting the name on a cake is a super cute idea, if you’re really concerned about people voicing their opinions (and everyone has an opinion), I would hold off telling people the name until baby is born.

ETA: I see I’m late to the party on this one and you’ve already decided.